NBA: Power Ranking the Top 5 Draft Classes Ever

NBA: Power Ranking the Top 5 Draft Classes Ever

0 of 5

The NBA Draft, where teams pick a young talent to see if they can pan out in the NBA. Some draft classes bring the great talents that we see in the NBA; other classes are unable to fulfill their promises.

In this article I will rank the top five draft classes of all time. This is based on how the players panned out (ex: how many became All-Stars, Hall of Famers, NBA Champions, etc)

Enjoy!

5. 1987 NBA Draft

1 of 5

This draft class brings us some very good players, some who are Hall of Famers, and others who had some very successful NBA careers.

Let us start off with one of the top shooters in NBA history with Reggie Miller. Just before the 2010-2011 season started, Miller had the NBA record for most three-pointers made in an NBA career.

He boasted a very efficient way of scoring and was very consistent when it came to making shots. He is known most for his epic playoff battles against the New York Knicks, and those were some of the games where he had his best game of his career.

Next comes Scottie Pippen, arguably one of the best defenders in NBA history. He is most recently known as the player who told people that LeBron is better than Jordan, but most people also know him as the Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman.

Many of his accolades come in the All-NBA department, making the All-Defensive team 10 times and the All-NBA team seven times.

David Robinson is the most notable player from this draft class. The "Admiral" was one of the best players to play the game of basketball and is considered to one of the NBA's 50 greatest players.

A 10-time All-NBA team member and an eight-time All-NBA defensive team member shows how good of an all-around player Robinson was. He won the MVP.

This draft was just amazing.

4. 1970 NBA Draft

2 of 5

This draft is highlighted by Pete Maravich, one of the greatest and most explosive PGs of all time. He was just a special talent that no one had seen at the time in the NBA.

He was a great scorer and had amazing hands to get the steal at the right time. He was a five-time All-Star, and although he never won a championship, is considered to be a top 50 player of all time.

Archibald was one of the premier guards in terms of scoring and passing during his tenure in the NBA and it showed with his six All-Star appearances along with his NBA Championship.

Issel is one of the greater draft steals in history as he was also a premier scorer, totalling more than 27,000 in his ABA/NBA career.

Bob Lanier was the first pick and was a huge help to the Pistons franchise. His career numbers have him averaging a double double (20 PTS, 10 REB), and he was a great leader.

Overall, a very underrated draft class with some amazing talents.

3. 2003 NBA Draft

3 of 5

This is where it becomes tough to choose the top three draft classes.

This draft class boasts four players, who by themselves carry this draft class to the hype they got and proved that they deserved it.

Let us start with Chris Bosh. In Toronto, he was a double double machine. He and Vince Carter created a fantastic duo, but the team never got under control; then a few years later, he was the franchise player for the Raptors. He started to take a bigger leadership role, and it proved, with back-to-back playoff appearances.

Carmelo Anthony is probably the best scorer of the four, having the ability to score from almost anywhere on the court. His athleticism and scoring ability make him the player he is.

The only problem with Melo is his defense. His defense is not as bad as it seems because when it comes to guarding star players, he can easily become a top tier defender, but when guarding average players, he does not seem to try.

Dwyane Wade is a great leader, and one of the best players at his position. He is a great scorer, great defender and a very good rebounder for his size.

Much like Carmelo, he can score from almost anywhere on the court, but prefers to slash the basket, which works for him. His leadership is what lead the Big Three to the NBA Finals and was a major role to Miami's championship team in 2006.

LeBron James is easily the best player out of this draft. Despite not having any NBA Championships to show for it, LeBron is easily the best player in the current NBA.

He is the best all-around player, with the ability to score, defend, rebound, pass, steal, etc. He may not have a jump shot at 100 percent, but his driving ability and vertical leap make it easy for him to get his points. He has great court vision as he can find open teammates almost all the time.

2. 1996 NBA Draft

4 of 5

This draft was stockpiled with notable names who have made a mark in NBA history in one way or another.

To start it off, Allen Iverson (the first overall pick) was simply a monster in his first stint with the 76'ers. He was a leader and singlehandedly took the 76'ers to the playoffs time and time again, and led them once to the NBA finals.

Steve Nash, a two time MVP, is still one of the best passers int he NBA today despite his age, and is one of the greatest point guards to play the role of floor general. Not only is his passing game what makes him special, he is a great shooter from close to long range. Definitely a huge steal, being picked at the 15th spot.

Ray Allen is easily the best three-point shooter and is head to head with Reggie Miller as two of the best shooters in league history. He most recently broke Reggie Millers three-point record, and with his amazing all-around game, will be a future Hall of Famer.

Possibly the greatest undrafted player of all time, Ben Wallace was just a defensive MONSTER. He was the Dennis Rodman of the modern era, and won countless all-defensive team honors along with defensive player of the year awards.

The most notable players was the one and only Kobe Bryant. One of the best players to play the game, Kobe has had a killer offensive and defensive game.

Considered the Robin to Shaquille O'Neal's Batman for the first of his three championships, he guided the Lakers to Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Despite not having talent, Kobe also took on the leadership role for the Lakers in the mid 2000s and played extraordinarily. He may have lost his explosiveness, but at the ripe age of 33, Kobe Bryant can still climb the ladder of greatness and make a bigger name for himself with the Hall of Fame career he has had.

Notable names: Peja Stojakavic, Jermaine O'Neal, Marcus Camby

1. 1984 NBA Draft

5 of 5

I think we all saw this coming despite it being such a close battle. Two of the top three players drafted are top all-time 10 players, and if you don't consider Hakeem top 10, then at least top 15.

This draft class boasted the greatest player to ever play the game. His scoring, passing and rebounding ability were not the reason he is considered the greatest, because there are obviously players who have scored more points, grabbed more rebounds and dished more assists.

What makes Jordan so amazing was his leadership skills and the fact that everywhere he went, he was loved.

This draft also boasts the center with possibly the greatest footwork for big men in NBA history, Hakeem Olaujuwon. His "dream shake" was one of the deadliest moves in the paint and got his defender clueless almost every time. He was also an amazing defender.

The second best PG of all time, John Stockton, was drafted mid first round and is considered to be one of the biggest draft steals of all time. His passing ability and court vision was AMAZING. He is the all-time leader in assists, and he rightfully deserves that spot.

The last name to be mentioned is going to be the one and only Charles Barkley. He was undersized for the power forward position but played as if he was seven feet tall.

He plays with heart and always hustled for every loose ball out there. He is one of the greatest rebounders of all time.

These four players alone are all at least top 30 players and this is the greatest draft in NBA history.